A whopping 97.5 per cent of Villa fans would like the option to stand at Villa Park after a supporters’ survey it is hoped will blaze a trail for the rest of the Premier League.

Around 1,000 supporters took part in a questionnaire around the stadium and online as the club investigates the possibility of a trial safe-standing area in the Holte End.

The almost unanimous show of support for the idea has been so overwhelming that the Football Supporters’ Federation intend on using Villa as a shining example for rivals to follow.

Other clubs’ supporters groups will be contacted by the FSF calling on them to conduct similar studies to Villa’s as they try to advance the debate on safe-standing.

The FSF hopes fans’ groups at all Premier League clubs will replicate this work, including the other five who have publicly backed safe-standing – Cardiff, Crystal Palace, Hull, Sunderland and Swansea.

Arsenal fans have also voted overwhelmingly in support of safe-standing in a supporters’ survey aimed at improving the atmosphere at the Emirates.

Manchester United and West Ham are among the others to have expressed tentative interest. Convincing a significant enough majority at Premier League level is the next aim.

It requires the backing of 14 of the 20 clubs to pass a resolution to get chief executive Richard Scudamore to approach the Government about changing all-seater stadia laws.

Villa are leading the way in terms of trying to get the ball rolling, as exclusively revealed by the Birmingham Mail in January last year, but amidst the cacophony of other issues at Premier League meetings the claret and blues need more support from top-flight rivals to get their voice heard.

Chief executive Paul Faulkner, a keen advocate of safe-standing, revealed the idea of the survey came from Villa supporters, who carried out the questionnaire process themselves.

He said the club were happy to help because it showed there was a significant appetite among the Villa Park faithful for the rail-seats method used so successfully in the Bundesliga in Germany.

“The encouraging thing is this is what the Villa fans want,” he said. “They came to us asking if they could do the survey at Villa Park and surrounding areas and we were fully in favour of them doing so. The results show the majority of Villa fans surveyed do want to explore the idea of a safe-standing area and we are simply trying to get the debate moving. We hope other clubs will follow suit.”

In the survey, 76.5 per cent of respondents said they would like to be able to watch a match from a standing area, while a further 21 per cent would not want to stand but would welcome an area for those who would.

Among the reasons for backing safe-standing were improved atmospheres, standing with friends and replicating the success of the same system in Europe, particularly Germany.

Those against, which came to 2.5 per cent, are worried safe-standing would increase the risk of crowd crushing and prompt a return to hooliganism, although the FSF insist there is no evidence to support those fears.

Holte Ender Anne-Marie Fern, who conducted the survey with the help of a friend, said it had been important to speak to a cross-section of Villa fans.

“We wanted to make sure we spoke to fans in all parts of Villa Park, to men and women and to fans of all ages, to determine that it was not just a particular type of fan in favour of this,” she said.

“It’s often said that women and families would be put off by safe-standing, but the results suggest that is not the case and that there is a general level of backing for it among Villa fans.

“I’d say to other clubs if you want to do something to help safe-standing, then carrying out a survey among your club’s fan base is a good way to do that. I know Villa feel this survey has been beneficial and proves what they already suspected – Villa fans want safe-standing.

“The level of support is incredible.”

Michael Brunskill, spokesman for the Football Supporters’ Federation – a democratic group representing the rights of fans in England and Wales – said the FSF are interested in a rail-seats system where every standing spectator has the reassurance and support of a barrier in front of them – and behind them – to prevent crushing.

“We’re delighted with the work Villa have done with this fans-led survey showing a sizeable number of Villa fans support the club’s wish to introduce a trial safe-standing area,” he said.

“But Villa can’t do it on their own, they need the support of other Premier League clubs and the FSF will encourage fans to lobby their clubs to follow in Villa’s footsteps.”